Digital Problem Solving
Digital research and problem solving requires us to draw upon many of the JISC capabilities to find information, create hypotheses, collect data and produce results.
Learning outcomes
- Find and curate digital information to inform decision making and problem solving
- Access and gather relevant data from spreadsheets, databases dashboards, models and simulations
- Collect and record data using digital tools and applications such as video capture, sensors and instrumentation
- Use appropriate methods to analyse data and report results
Higher level
- Select, prioritise and interpret data (primary or secondary) to answer original questions and solve problems relevant to the subject area
- Derive conclusions or make professional decisions based on digital data and evidence
- Collect and analyse data from clients, users, participants etc. using appropriate professional methods (eg. surveys, interviews, forms, data capture) with an awareness of professional data ethics
- Choose, adopt or develop digital applications to address specific problems
- Access opportunities and risks, benefits and harms from specific digital tools or applications in context
Synchronous Activities
Survey design
- Organise the students into groups and ask them to design a short survey using Microsoft Forms, with a survey topic that is appropriate for everyone in the class to respond to, e.g. travel locations, music.
- Ask each group to fill out each other’s surveys.
- Ask the students to read this questionnaire design resource from the ABS.
- Get each group to look at their survey and fix errors or issues and report back to the class.
Debate
- Split the students into two groups, giving each one a treatment for a certain problem – something divisive.
- Ask them to gather evidence from the literature (you can request help from your liaison librarian).
- Set up a formal debate where each side has to present their research.
Wicked problem
- Give the students a wicked problem – for example, advancing obesity.
- Organise the students into groups and assign each group a different stakeholder to present as.
- Ask the students to gather evidence and make a short video showing the impacts on that stakeholder group now and in the future.
- Watch the videos as a class and then reflect on the videos.
Resources
- Collect and capture research data (QUT AIRS, online module)
- SAGE Research Methods Online (SRMO)(QUT subscribed database)
- Defining Digital Problem Solving(Reading)
- 15 Digital Problem Solving Tasks(Wrike, webpage)
